Destination Bayfront could be Coliseum conversion plan

Group meeting to discuss bayfront area's future

CORPUS CHRISTI - A grass-roots effort by local businesspeople aims to convert the Memorial Coliseum location into a mixed-use public space.

The model for the idea is Discovery Green in Houston, a $100 million, 12-acre downtown park developed by the city and a nonprofit conservatory.

The group pitched the idea, called Destination Bayfront, to downtown property owners, the Downtown Management District and other groups in private meetings in the past few weeks. Group members plan to present the idea to the City Council sometime soon as a use for the city land once the coliseum is demolished.

The City Council arrived at that decision — demolishing the coliseum — last week after wrestling with what to do with it since it closed in 2004. In the interim, several multimillion-dollar proposals were entertained and dismissed as the building deteriorated and became a symbol of city inertia.

The group seeking to fill the void that will be left by the coliseum’s removal says Destination Bayfront wouldn’t necessarily be as large, include the same elements or be as expensive as the Houston park.

“We’re not saying, ‘Pick up Discovery Green and plunk it down on the Memorial Coliseum property,” said Joe Hilliard, one of those involved in the plans. “Discovery Green is working in Houston. There might be something else that works in Corpus Christi. There might be something else people want here.”

The group does want to use the same process Houston did to develop the park. A nonprofit board controls the maintenance of the Houston park, its finances and events and leases the land from the city. The park hosts several events a week, such as free fitness classes, outdoor movies and concerts. Some paid events and pad sites rented to restaurants and businesses generate income.

“We’re not proposing a specific plan or drawing,” said Trey McCampbell, one of the people behind the plan. “We want to build an interest in what would be down there.”

The Houston park’s high cost is one reason some people have questioned if the project would work in Corpus Christi.

David Loeb, who is part of the group presenting the plan, said it’s important to recognize Corpus Christi’s project may not be as expensive. Other cities had to buy property to build their parks, but the city already owns the coliseum land. Voters also approved a $13 million bond to pay for Shoreline Boulevard realignment, which would affect the area. The road realignment money could be the local contribution needed to win a state or federal grant.

“We’re not starting from a zero dollar amount,” Loeb said.

The project also could be developed in phases, McCampbell said.

“We may just say we can do three or four elements and over time can do the rest,” he said. “To say that it can’t be done because the city is in a funding crisis assumes the city will always be in a funding crisis. This is the best time to build a plan.”

Before they bring it to the council, they want to have community groups vet the idea and suggest what they’d like to see in the area. That’s why the group hasn’t developed renderings, Hilliard said. They want the public to have a chance to say what they want there.

They also need to convince the public that it’s OK that it isn’t like the numerous other multimillion-dollar Memorial Coliseum proposals. Development of nearby property will follow the improvement of the coliseum land, they argue.

“The destination leads to nearby development, brings tourism, brings people who want to live in that city,” said J.J. Hart, another member of the group. “It can become a real economic driver.”

In Houston, private development around the park followed. The local group has met with some nearby landowners who support the plan, McCampbell said.

The group also reviewed public space projects in Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky. All had similar results, Loeb said.

“The amount of development that came was double compared to how much it cost to build the park,” he said. “It’s not a big grassy area with a few trees and a picnic table. It’s an activity center with things to do.”

On Nov. 17, Mayor Joe Adame made a motion to demolish the coliseum and pursue a plan for a mixed-use park. Only Council members Mark Scott, who promoted the idea, Chris Adler and John Marez supported the idea. Other council members didn’t support it because they said they didn’t want to support a plan that didn’t have funding and wouldn’t create jobs.